Sep 28, 2009

Thank goodness I have good outdoor reporters in the the area. They give me a constant supply of great stuff like this. Sounds like the snake pulled through with some assistance, click on the photo for more info.

Sep 23, 2009

For us here at Lunker Hunt, fishing isn't all peaches and cream - as this blog might make you believe. For every grip 'n grin picture or serene landscape, there are countless moments I'd rather not share.

Above is one of those moments. It came on the Mackinaw River last weekend; Dave happened to have a camera ready. At first glance you might see me making beautifully long casts to the log on the right in front of a splendid river scene. What you really see is me using the "brute force" technique on a snag I couldn't reach, in front of a splendid river scene. If you fish with me, you'll see more of this than anything else. Worms, cranks, spinners or flies - it doesn't matter. I've even once been called "the snaggingist son of a bitch."

But hey...if you're not getting hung up, you're not where the fish are.

Sep 22, 2009

A while ago I attempted to spin deer hair into a Dahlberg Diver. The result was terrible and ended up meeting a razor before it met the camera - I carved one instead. Last night I tried again, having learned a thing or two in the interim. The plan was to keep it simple and just get the hair to stand up - shape didn't matter...success.

Sep 21, 2009

As a seasoned angler, I've learned a few things. Preparation is key to a good trip, and I always check (and double check) my gear before hitting the road. Imagine my surprise when we arrived at the Mackinaw River put in spot last Saturday, only to discover Dave forgot the single piece of gear any angler can't do without - his rod. Amateur.

While he hurried home, I enjoyed an hour and a half of peaceful solitude. I watched fish rise - some of them big, I watched deer sip cool water and I didn't catch a damn thing during this period of frustration and tranquility. The fish were rising everywhere and I couldn't convince them to bite any of the half dozen flies I threw.

The day was pretty slow, but the weather and river were great. We spent about eight hours fly fishing downstream and back. By the time we climbed out of the river, we had a mere two fish (well one and a half) counted. I managed this nice 15.5" hybrid striper. He didn't fight much, it was pretty disappointing really.

My bass was in current near an eddy and bit one of the rabbit hair and hackle flies I tied the other day. A few hours later, Dave managed to catch the target species, albeit not the target size.

Dave's was under a log, and succumbed to a Holschlag Hackle fly. It was a pretty crumby trip for me, so I can't imagine how Dave felt. I just keep reminding myself a day fishing is better than.... well most things really.

Next time I think I'll start at the same spot, but work upstream a ways to see what I find. Hopefully by then I have some waterproof waders.

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Side note: Last night I read an interesting InFisherman article about how fish utilize their lateral lines in tracking and identifying prey. I learned something I think I can apply to fly fishing and fly tying. If you happen to see the latest copy on the stand, pick it up. The article in question is just a page long and is on one of the first pages. You'll have educated yourself becore the clerk knows what's up.

Sep 14, 2009

This weekend marked the beginning of the new NFL football season. Sunday, as I watched, my vise was smoking. I whipped up seven flies while the Seahawks whipped up the Rams.

Up first is an exact replica of a streamer I invented and had good luck with at the Snatch. The fly saw plenty of bites before being retired. After this one, you'll see a couple more with slight variations. Generally, I like the light color.

The tail is three saddle hackle feathers and some krystal flash, the body is rabbit zonker. All on a 4/0 hook. Here it is wet.

Here is a slight variation. This time I used a bunch of marabou for the body, and snuck in six peacock hurl. I also downsized the hook to a #4 Mustad streamer. Next time I tie it, I'll add more hurl.

And the last light variation. This time I used rabbit, marabou and flash for the body over a hackle tail. This one is also on a #4 Mustad streamer.

I carried the light colored theme of the night when I tied a Barr's Meat Whistle in light colors on a #1 plain shank.

And finally the coup de grace. What sort of fly tier would I be without my own mouse. Here is a very simple topwater fly to tie. What you need is a natural colored rabbit zonker strip, some fly tying foam and a hook. I simply tie on a "shaved" zonker strip for the tail, then tie in a couple strips of foam. Then I wrap the foam with the zonker strip.

This fly made it's first appearance back in January and I've since perfected it. One lesson is to use a light wire hook, I use a #1/0 Aberdeen. Also I've found Rabbit zonkers alone are a little buoyant, but without the foam core the hook is too heavy to keep this fly up. I have tried this fly with good luck as a subsurface, but adding the foam makes it deadly. You really need to tie one and see it in the water.

I'm curious if anyone has seen a mouse like that. Any name suggestions? I think Clif's Mouse will do for now.

Sep 11, 2009

Ever take time to decide if you're holding a spotted or largemouth bass? I have and I have to say it's easy to forget the differences when your in the middle of a lake and have nothing but a suspicion to guide you. That's not to mention my recent troubles identifying white bass and green sunfish.

Don't fret, because help is here. I recommend you purchase a few miles of waterproof ethernet cable, a bank of lithium ion batteries and don't forget to bookmark FishIndex before your next trip. You never know what you might catch, and with the index's extensive catalog you no longer have to post an embarrassing miss identification to your blog.

I found FishIndex while cruising Blogcatalog, and I have to say I'll be back.

Sep 4, 2009

I lied, I didn't wait for "some heavy rain to replenish my hole." Me and Hacky went back to the Snatch last night and it was good to us. Not as good as my previous solo trip but we still ended up catching four fish between the two of us.

We pulled up around 6pm and I rushed to get in the water. By the time Hacky was done buttoning his blouse and showed up wheezing at the hole, I had already missed one and caught another. I think the one I missed would have been a good one - just like all fish that get away.

I caught two smallies and a tiny bluegill, Hacky caught a tiny bronzeback. My two bass are pictured; I would have loved to post a picture of him with his little fish but he tossed it back before I could bring the camera. I think he's starting to learn a thing or two about fishing with a blogger.

I caught my first bass and got numerous nibbles on a streamer I made up after the last trip. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but I was pleased with my creation. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it and it is now embedded in a submerged log. I think I'll tie another. Stay tuned for pictures of my new fly, I might even name this one.